Scotland’s
leading data
& AI event

At DataFest, industry leaders, innovators, and practitioners come together to explore how data and AI are redefining our world - from the way we work and live, to how we connect and create.

Expect world-class speakers, thought-provoking discussions, and opportunities to connect with peers across sectors and industries.

For our 2026 edition, our theme 'Intelligent Futures' will explore how data and AI are transforming the systems, industries, and societies of tomorrow - with a focus on long-term impact, trust, and responsible scale.

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Programme

Kickstart DataFest 2026 at our Pre Conference Day! Join us for a highly interactive and engaging experience where you can actively participate in deep-dive discussions and connect with the data & AI community.

Registration

June 28, 2025

13:30 - 14:30

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Networking

,

Welcome to DataFest 2026

June 28, 2025

14:30 - 14:35

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,

From Copilots to Agentic Systems: How Enterprise AI Is Really Evolving

April 16, 2026

14:35 - 15:15

-

Keynote

,

Scaling Up Science in the Era of Agents

April 16, 2026

15:15 - 15:55

-

Keynote

,

Afternoon Break

April 16, 2026

15:55 - 16:30

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Networking

,

From Humans to Humanoids: Intelligent Machines in the Real World

April 16, 2026

16:30 - 17:15

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Keynote

,

The Future Workforce: What Changes in an AI World?

April 16, 2026

16:30 - 17:15

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Panel

,

Are We Outsourcing Thinking?

April 16, 2026

17:15 - 18:00

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Panel

,

Open Source and Open Infrastructure in the Age of AI

April 16, 2026

17:15 - 18:00

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Keynote

,

Drinks Reception

April 20, 2026

18:00 - 19:00

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Networking

,

Registration and Networking

June 28, 2025

08:30 - 09:30

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,

Eden or Exile: Shaping AI's Future - and Ours

June 28, 2025

09:30 - 10:20

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Keynote

Caroline Criado Perez

,

Is the Public Sector Ready for an AI-Driven Future?

June 28, 2025

09:30 - 10:20

-

Panel

,

Who Builds AI - and Why It Matters

June 28, 2025

10:20 - 11:00

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Panel

,

Preparing for the AI Revolution - Local Government Perspective

April 17, 2026

10:20 - 10:55

-

Keynote

,

Morning Break

April 17, 2026

11:00 - 11:30

-

Networking

,

Why Do So Many AI Projects Fail?

April 17, 2026

11:30 - 12:15

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Panel

,

What Does AI Mean for Creativity?

April 17, 2026

11:30 - 12:15

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Panel

,

Leaders of Tomorrow

April 17, 2026

12:15 - 13:00

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Keynote

,

Taking AI Consciousness Seriously

April 17, 2026

12:15 - 12:50

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Keynote

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2026 Speakers

Global tech leaders, visionary founders, and creators shaping the future — all on one stage.

View all Speakers

Jimmy Wales

Founder

Wikipedia

Dex Hunter-Torricke

Founder & President

The Center for Tomorrow

Dr Julia Stamm

Founder

She Shapes AI

Prof. Rachel Adams

Executive Director | CEO and Founder

Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence | Global Centre on AI Governance

Georgia Channing

AI for Science Lead

Hugging Face

Amanda Brock

CEO

OpenUK

Colin Nwachukwu Ife

Head of Risk

Geordie AI

Theo Blackwell

Chief Digital Officer for London

Mayor of London's Office

Sophie Greaves

Associate Director for Digital Infrastructure

techUK

Danny Quinn

Managing Director

DataVita

Will Millership

CEO

PRISM

Carl Strathearn

Lecturer (Assistant Professor), Researcher & Expert Advisor on Embodied AI and Humanoid Robotics

Edinburgh Napier University

Matt Rooney

Director of Analytics

Skyscanner

Ali Shah

Managing Director for Responsible AI

Accenture

Tom Wilkinson

Chief Data Officer

The Scottish Government

Kjersti Fergusson

Head of Intelligent Automation

The Scottish Government

Brian Coane

Partner

Leith Agency

Caroline Parkinson

Director of Creative

Edinburgh Futures Institute

Dr Suzanne R. Black

Postdoctoral Researcher, CoSTAR

University of Edinburgh

Jamie Jefferson

Chief Creative Officer & Co-founder

Equator

Sidrah Hassan

AI Governance and Ethics Manager

Kainos

Albert King

Chief Data Officer

Public Services Delivery Scotland

Darren Dalrymple

Industry Director - Consumer Technology

CreateFuture

Sophie Harpur

Head of Product - AI & Automation

OVO

Heather Thomson

CEO

The Data Lab

Dave Evans

Head of Data Engineering

FreeAgent

Gavin Allan

Co-Head of Data Science & AI

Barclays

Prof. Emily Nordmann

Professor of Evidence-Informed Education and Associate Dean for Learning and Teaching

The University of Glasgow

Jamie Laycock

Head of Biology & AI Lead

The Glasgow Academy

Anna McMillan

VP of Delivery

2i // Scottish Women in Technology Board Trustee

Alex Van Sant

Senior Manager – Leadership and Culture

Accenture

Sean Harkin

Data Science & AI Lead

Lloyds Banking Group

Kate Farrell

Director of Curriculum Development and Professional Learning

Data Education for Schools

David McFarlane

Data Practice Lead, Scotland & The North

Capco

Aaron Edgar

Ecosystem Architect

Teradata

Michelle Scott

Training and Development Executive

The Data Lab

Tricia Moscati

Head of Digital Transformation

Heriot-Watt University

Laurel Renton

AI Strategy Consultant

Kyberna AI

Mark Dodgson

Director of Customer Solution Architecture

Teradata

Katriona Brooksbank

Regional Head of Innovation

NHS GGC

Hazel Jane

Interfaith Minister

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